Apparatus and method of improving retinal image quality with a slotted transmissive region

Abstract

A corrective lens for correcting aberrations of an eye of a patient includes a central region formed in the center of the corrective lens preventing light transmission. The corrective lens further includes a slotted transmissive region formed in the central region, the slotted transmissive region allowing light transmission therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A corrective lens for correcting aberrations of an eye of a patient, the corrective lens comprising:
 a central region formed in the center of the corrective lens preventing light transmission; and   a slotted transmissive region formed in the central region, the slotted transmissive region allowing light transmission therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted transmissive region is formed in the center of the central region. 
     
     
         3 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted transmissive region is formed spaced from the center of the central region. 
     
     
         4 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the lens improves depth of focus to improve retinal image quality of objects that are at far, intermediate, and near distances from the eye. 
     
     
         5 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the lens is one of a soft contact lens, hard contact lens, spectacles, and an intraocular lens. 
     
     
         6 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the corrective lens has an orientation when worn on the eye, and the slotted transmissive region is elongated in a horizontal direction relative to the orientation of the corrective lens when worn. 
     
     
         7 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the corrective lens has an orientation when worn on the eye, and the slotted transmissive region is elongated in a vertical direction relative to the orientation of the corrective lens when worn. 
     
     
         8 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the corrective lens has an orientation when worn on the eye, and the slotted transmissive region is elongated in a diagonal direction relative to the orientation of the corrective lens when worn. 
     
     
         9 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted transmissive region has non-parallel long sides. 
     
     
         10 . The corrective lens of  claim 9 , wherein the slotted transmissive region has curvilinear long sides. 
     
     
         11 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the central region is printed onto a surface of the corrective lens. 
     
     
         12 . The corrective lens of  claim 1 , wherein the slotted transmissive region includes an aperture disposed through the corrective lens. 
     
     
         13 . The corrective lens of  claim 12 , wherein the central region includes an opaque pigment in a material of the corrective lens, the aperture being formed subsequent to the opaque pigment being added. 
     
     
         14 . The corrective lens of  claim 13 , wherein the aperture is formed through the corrective lens with a laser. 
     
     
         15 . Corrective lenses for correcting aberrations of eyes of a patient, the corrective lenses comprising:
 a first corrective lens and a second corrective lens;   a first central region formed in the center of the first corrective lens, the first central region preventing light transmission;   a second central region formed in the center the second corrective lens, the second central region preventing light transmission;   a first slotted transmissive region formed in the first central region, the first slotted transmissive region allowing light transmission therethrough; and   a second slotted transmissive region formed in the second central region, the second slotted transmissive region allowing light transmission therethrough.   
     
     
         16 . The corrective lenses of  claim 15 , wherein the first corrective lens has a first orientation when worn on a first eye, the second corrective lens has a second orientation when worn on a second eye, the first slotted transmissive region is elongated in a first direction relative to the orientation of the first corrective lens when worn, and the second slotted transmissive region is elongated in a second direction relative to the orientation of the second corrective lens when worn, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The corrective lenses of  claim 15 , wherein the first slotted transmissive region formed in the first central region has a first shape, the second slotted transmissive region formed in the second central region has a second shape, and the first shape is different from the second shape. 
     
     
         18 . The corrective lenses of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first slotted transmissive region and the second slotted transmissive region is formed in the center of the respective first and second central regions. 
     
     
         19 . The corrective lenses of  claim 18 , wherein both the first slotted transmissive region and the second slotted transmissive region are formed in the center of the respective first and second central regions. 
     
     
         20 . A method of correcting aberrations of an eye, the method comprising positioning a corrective lens to an eye, the corrective lens having a central region formed in the center of the corrective lens, the central region preventing light transmission, and a slotted transmissive region formed in the central region allowing light transmission therethrough.